Tethered ball

ABSTRACT

A ball device wherein one end of a resilient cord is integrally fused by a vulcanization process to the central interior of a resilient ball, thereby providing an improved toy ball device which will withstand heavy and prolonged use by children and by adults. In one embodiment the embedded end of the cord may be knotted. In another embodiment the cord may be woven throughout its length and the embedded end may enclose an inner core member.

TETHERED BALL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved ball device having a solid resilient ball integrally attached to a resilient cord and capable of withstanding heavy and prolonged use by children and by adults.

2. Prior Art j Applicant is unaware of prior art devices having the capabilities of this invention as provided by the integral joining of the ball and cord.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a ball device which includes a resilient ball attached to a resilient cord. The ball may be made of any resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber, or various plastics or other resilient material. The cord may be made of material similar to the ball, but preferably from a resilient plastic.

The ball is preferably solid throughout. Its weight may be varied by using denser or'less dense material as desired.

Attachment of the cord to the ball by vulcanization provides a secure connection which will withstand prolonged and hard usage by children as well as adults. The ball is formed around one end of the cord by vulcanization or other various suitable methods.

Alternatively, the inner end of the cord may be formed into a knot and then the ball is formed around the knot and vulcanized to the cord.

An improved ball device may also be provided by forming the ball around one end of a woven or braided type cord, which end is formed to enclose a relatively small core object within the weave of the cord. The outer end of the cord may be frayed for appearance purposes.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved ball device capable of withstanding heavy and prolonged use by children and by adults.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved ball device in which the ball has a cord integrally attached to it.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ball device in which the ball and the attached cord may be made from any suitable resilient material.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide an improved ball device in which the ball is formed around a relatively small core object enclosed by one end of a woven or braided type cord.

These and other objects will be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the ball device showing the method of attachment of the cord to the ball.

FIG. 2 is a partial section of the ball showing the opening.

FIG. 3 is a partial section of the ball showing attachment of the cord with an inner knot.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention showing a relatively small core object enclosed within one end ofa woven or braided cord and showing the ball in partial section around the core object.

The ball device has a solid resilient ball l2 having an opening 14 extending inside the ball 12 almost to its RII center. A resilient cord 16 has its inner end 18 inserted into opening 14 and has its outer end 20 frayed,

The ball 12 and the cord 16 are permanently joined by a conventional vulcanization process in which the heat causes the cord to be integrally fused to the interior of the ball 12. An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3, where the inner end of the cord 16 is formed into a knot 22 and then the'ball l2. is formed around the knot 22 and vulcanized.

The temperature-of the vulcanization should be at least 280F.; the temperature may vary from 280 to 320 F.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4, where the cord 16 is a woven or braided type cord with one end having a somewhat separated weave 24 formed to closely enclose an inner core objectI 26. The core object 26 may be made of any suitable material that will withstand the 300F. heat of vulcanization` such as plastics, metal, or ceramic material. The object 26 may be of any shape-irregular, a polygon, a sphere, and the like. The ratio in size of the core object 26 to the ball l2 preferably should be l toS. The critical ratio of the size of the core object 26 to the ball 12 is between l to 4 and l to 6. A ratio smaller than l to 4 will adversely affect the resilience of the ball l2 and its operation as a toy device, while a ratio greater than l to 6 will adversely affect the capability of the core object 26 to act a's an anchor for the cord 16 to maintain the connection of the cord 16 tothe ball 12. The ratio of the crosssection or diameter 28 of cord 16 is critical between a ratio of l to 7 and l to 8 ofthe diameter of the ball l2. A ratio smaller than l to 7 will adversely affect the performance ofthe ball device 10 as a whirling toy device which can be released as a flying object. A ratio greater than l lto 8 will subject the cord 16 to easier breakage as well being more liable to be pulled out from the center of the ball l2. Any suitable resilient material may be used forfthe ball l2 such as various plastics or rubbers, particularly sponge rubber. Any suitable resilient material may be used for the cord 16, including the woven or braided embodiment, such as plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or cotton.

The ball device l0 may then be used as a toy by whirling it around with the cord 16 and letting it loose as desired, or bouncing it with or without the use of the cord 16, and in many other ways. Because of the integral joining of the ball l2 and the cord 16, the ball device 10 will withstand heavy and prolonged use by both children and adults.

Although l have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without A departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: l. A ball device consisting of a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around one end of a resilient cord, said cord being integrally fused at said end to the central interior of said ball, said cord being resilient throughout its length. 2. A ball device according to claim l in which the ratio ofthe diameter of they cord to the diameter of the ball varies from l to 7 to l to 8.

3. A ball device consisting of a resilient cord having one end formed into a knot, said cord being resilient throughout its length, and a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around said knot and integrally fused to said knot at the central interior of said ball, whereby said cord is integrally connected to said ball.

4. A ball device according to claim 3 in which the ratio of the diameter of the cord to the diameter of the ball varies from l to 7 to l to 8.

5. A ball device comprising:

a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around an end of a resilient cord woven throughout its length, said end enclosing a core object smaller than said ball, and having a separated weave and integrally fused to the Central interior of said ball, said cord being resilient throughout its length,

6. A ball device according to claim 5 in which the ratio of the size of the core object to the ball varies from l to 4to l to 6.

7. A ball device according to claim 5 in which the l() ratio of the diameter of the cord to the diameter ofthe ball varies from l to 7 to l to 8.

l l lf 

1. A ball device consisting of a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around one end of a resilient cord, said cord being integrally fused at said end to the central interior of said ball, said cord being resilient throughout its length.
 2. A ball device according to claim 1 in which the ratio of the diameter of the cord to the diameter of the ball varies from 1 to 7 to 1 to
 8. 3. A ball device consisting of a resilient cord having one end formed into a knot, said cord being resilient throughout its length, and a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around said knot and integrally fused to said knot at the central interior of said ball, whereby said cord is integrally connected to said ball.
 4. A ball device according to claim 3 in which the ratio of the diameter of the cord to the diameter of the ball varies from 1 to 7 to 1 to
 8. 5. A ball device comprising: a resilient ball of a unitary material formed around an end of a resilient cord woven throughout Its length, said end enclosing a core object smaller than said ball, and having a separated weave and integrally fused to the central interior of said ball, said cord being resilient throughout its length.
 6. A ball device according to claim 5 in which the ratio of the size of the core object to the ball varies from 1 to 4 to 1 to
 6. 7. A ball device according to claim 5 in which the ratio of the diameter of the cord to the diameter of the ball varies from 1 to 7 to 1 to
 8. 